Wm. J. Mills & Co. Canvas

[Gargantuga]

Q1: are the frames for supporting a Wm. J Mills & Co. Flying Top for a MONTAUK 17 made from aluminum or from stainless steel?

Q2: will the frame supports for a MONTAUK 17 Flying Top made by Wm. J Mills & Co. have straight tubes or S-curved tubes (as seen in Figure 1)?

Fig. 1. A frame for supporting a Bimini Top on a MONTAUK 17.

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Q3: for canvas you have purchased from Wm. J. Mills & Co., are you satisfied with the quality and the cost?

Q4: what is your opinion on TUUCI Shadeblade as seen on FasseCo channel?

BACKSTORY

I'm considering upgrade my non OEM-Suntop with canvas made by a Wm. J. Mills & Co., Sailmakers. Reading the forum, I understand many [owners of Boston Whaler boats] have experience with this manufacturer.

--Gargantuga

[jimh]

Q1: are the frames for holding a Flying Top for a MONTAUK 17 made by Wm. J Mills & Co. made from aluminum or from stainless steel?

The frames used on Mills canvas are generally ALWAYS made with stainless steel tubing in my experience.

Q2: will the frame supports for a MONTAUK 17 made by Wm. J Mills & Co. have straight tubes or S-curved tubes (as seen in Figure 1)?

I would be very surprised if the frames had an S-curve. I do not recall seeing that approach used.

Q3: for canvas you have purchased from Wm. J. Mills & Co., are you satisfied with the quality and the cost?

Yes. As it happens, I just had to replace an element of the weather canvas for my 1990 REVENGE 22 W-T. This was not due to a failure of the canvas but because it was accidentally lost at sea. I contacted Mills. They were confident they could duplicate the original component. In less than two weeks the replacement canvas arrived and fit perfectly.

I had also spoken with a very good local canvas shop regarding having them make the replacement, and they gave me a rough estimated cost. As it turned out, the Mills price was very significantly better than having it made locally.

My Mills canvas was originally made c.2000, so it now is in its 26th season of use; it has been remarkably durable.

Q4: what is your opinion on TUUCI Shadeblade as seen on FasseCo channel?

I have not opinion. I am not aware of the brand or the material or the vendor or the website.

[jimh]

An older thread shows a Mills Flying Top on a MONTAUK 17:

https://continuouswave.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3294

The design appears to allow the Flying Top to be stowed by folding the frame forward and lowering it into the foredeck.

In the photographs shown in that thread, I am surprised that the straps running aft are at such a long angle. Typically the aft straps on a Flying Top on a small boat will run almost vertically downward from the frame to the gunwales. In this manner they do not become obstructions in the aft cockpit while engaged in angling.

Below Figure 1 illustrates the usual method for supporting a Flying Top on a smaller boat, in this case on an OUTRAGE 18.

Fig. 1. A Mills Flying Top on the OUTRAGE 18 CICADA. From a July 2008 trip
to the North Channel of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.
Rest in Peace our dear friend Paul Mott.

flyingTopMillsOUTRAGE18.jpg (96.11 KiB) Viewed 770 times

Note the crafty design of the frame, fixed supports, and straps. There is a fixed tube support that holds the frame erect, which allows the top to be folded and stored inside a boot on the frame. Also very unique is the orientation of the aft straps. They pull down and slightly forward. This removes the strap from being an obstruction in the cockpit aft of the reversible pilot seat.

For highway towing, the fixed vertical support tube can be removed from its base, and the whole frame tilted and lowered forward, into the forward cockpit. The hinge fittings typically use a removable spring-loaded pin, so they can be unhinged for folding the frame forward.

Also, do not worry about the size of the Flying Top. It gives excellent sun shade for people standing directly under it, and also protects against rain.